THE trappings of success can weigh heavily but two Olympic gold medals towards the end of an illustrious career have simply made Kent's Dame Kelly Holmes a more confident and more accomplished performer on the track.

This new found confidence was self-evident in the way Holmes disposed of top Russian opposition and former European Cup 1500m champion, Helen Clitheroe in the 1500m race that brought the three way international against Russia and USA to a close on Sunday.

The finishing time of 4 minutes 6.52 seconds was not particularly quick but the manner of the victory was reminiscent of her success in the cauldron of the Athens Olympic stadium less than a year ago when she also bided her time until the finishing straight before striking for home and virtual immortality.

This was the start of a long farewell during which Holmes has pledged to perform in Manchester, London and Sheffield before possibly ending her career at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the country where she won her first gold medal in 1994 in the Victoria Games.

If Dame Kelly, from Hildenborough, does decide to continue to 2006 there would be no more fitting end to her glittering career than to complete the Commonwealth Games circle with another gold medal or even two in Melbourne.